Iraq president asks al-Maliki to form government

Former Iraqi prime minister Ayad Allawi, center, and members of his Sunni-backed coalition are seen as they walk out of of Iraq's parliament session in a protest before a vote on the presidency in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

/ AP

Former Iraqi prime minister Ayad Allawi, center, and members of his Sunni-backed coalition are seen as they walk out of of Iraq's parliament session in a protest before a vote on the presidency in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

Former Iraqi prime minister Ayad Allawi, center, and members of his Sunni-backed coalition are seen as they walk out of of Iraq's parliament session in a protest before a vote on the presidency in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim) (/ AP)

BUSHRA JUHI, Associated Press

Members of a Sunni-backed coalition are seen as they walk out of of Iraq's parliament session in a protest before a vote on the presidency in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010. A Sunni-backed coalition walked out of Iraq's parliament session in protest Thursday before a vote on the presidency

/ AP

Members of a Sunni-backed coalition are seen as they walk out of of Iraq's parliament session in a protest before a vote on the presidency in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010. A Sunni-backed coalition walked out of Iraq's parliament session in protest Thursday before a vote on the presidency in a move that cast doubt on the durability of an agreement to form a new unity government under Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

Members of a Sunni-backed coalition are seen as they walk out of of Iraq's parliament session in a protest before a vote on the presidency in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010. A Sunni-backed coalition walked out of Iraq's parliament session in protest Thursday before a vote on the presidency in a move that cast doubt on the durability of an agreement to form a new unity government under Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim) (/ AP)

Members of his Sunni-backed coalition are seen as they walk out of of Iraq's parliament session in a protest before a vote on the presidency in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

/ AP

Members of his Sunni-backed coalition are seen as they walk out of of Iraq's parliament session in a protest before a vote on the presidency in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim)

Members of his Sunni-backed coalition are seen as they walk out of of Iraq's parliament session in a protest before a vote on the presidency in Baghdad, Iraq, Thursday, Nov. 11, 2010. (AP Photo/Karim Kadim) (/ AP)

Iraq's President Jalal Talabani has named Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki to form a government after a dramatic walkout by members of a Sunni-backed coalition.

The parliament session Thursday was then adjourned.

Al-Maliki now has 30 days with which to form a new government.

His efforts to include significant Sunni support in the new government took a beating after the walkout by members of the Sunni-backed Iraqiya bloc.

Iraqiya lawmakers had demanded that before parliament vote on the president, it vote first to formally reverse decisions by a De-Baathification program barring three of their members from holding government positions.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

BAGHDAD (AP) - Iraqi lawmakers have elected Kurdish leader Jalal Talabani as president despite a dramatic walkout by a Sunni-backed bloc.

Talabani was immediately sworn in.

Talabani's election was part of a deal hammered out by Iraqi lawmakers to end an eight-month deadlock over who would lead the new government.

The Sunni bloc's lawmakers had demanded that before parliament vote on the president, it vote first to formally dissolve decisions by a De-Baathification program purging former members of Saddam Hussein's ruling party which had barred three of their members from taking part in government positions.